Grade-crossing safety equipment



.iune24,1930. ,SCODE 1,765,906

GRADE CROSSING sAFmwb EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet l- Fild oct. 28, 1929Krql Juve/Moz fr?? Cba-567 wwwa June 24, 1930. H. s. coDER GRADEYCROSSING SAFETY EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sham 5 Filed Oct. 2K8, 1929 June 24,1930. H. s. coDER GRADE CROSSING SFETY EQUIPMENT Filed oct. 28, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 1930 nanars. conan, or nnrnenfron, nnwanasnj 1,755,906 i g enAn'Ek-cnossrne sanary EeUiPMEn/fr i' Application filedOctober 28, 1929. SeriaI 'Nol 402,969. Y

Theinvention aims to14lprovide :new and improvedl safety equipment forgrade crossings, which will project barriers across the I views on thecorrespondingly numbered .lines i highway when a' 'train is approachingfrom either direction, will alloweither of the'barriers to'betemporarily moved toinop'erativeg position bya vehicle',` should this benecessary b-yvtrapping of such vehicle upon theA tracks, and willy causeret-urn of thebarrieigs to inoperative position, after the "train haspassed.r

'1n carrying out the above end, Vfurtherfobjects are to-provi'deuniqueelectrically/.controlled means for j holding the barriers .15 againstself-returnto inoperative position.'

'and forvpreventing alternate projectionand retraction of sai'dbarriersfwhile `the train is passing, and to provide :novel andadvantageous operating means for. the barriers,r4perinittingtemporarymovement ofthem to inoperative position by means ofthevehicle9 although one of the operating connectionsk of. each barrieris. at that time ypositively.'

of one association of these parts will suiiic'e..

The barrier 1Q ispreferably composed of locked by trainlcontrolledlocking means.

25 *A still -further object'istolprovidel a con'- structionl which lwilloperateA advantageously in yconnectionwvith either-joire' barrier or aplurality of suchr barriers,or with Only'- a single track or `alplurality oftracks.

With the foregoing -in'view, the invention resides-in the novel subject:matter hereinafter describedfand. claimed, descriptionvbepa-nyingidrawings.-'jv l V Fig.A 1 is a top plan vviewwith portionsof the track railsnbroken'away and ywithtlic covers of the variouspassages Vandone ofthe ing accomplishedb-y reference to the accom-VAbarrierrv pits removed. y f l v i F.ig.k 2 is' an enlarged f lvertical'sectional View *through one of the 'barriers and a' portion of itsoperating means,'y as indicated by line'2-2 of Fig. 1, they barrierbeing in normal lowered position. f

Fig. 3 is a duplicate of Fig. 2 with the exception that it illustratesthe barrier Vin raised position. Y' 'x Fig. et is a sectional view jFig. 1 illustrating one of they depres'sible '-50 rails employed to:projecttlie barriers.

passing. y

.railway therefrom7 are horizontal. arms 17 on line 4% Figs. 6, 7 and 8Varevertical'sectional ofFig-4. p 'i Fig. 9v is a diagramillustratingone wiring 'system which maybe employed for the elec-ytrically-controlled `devices which hold the barriersy 'againstyself-return to normal posi-V tionv while al traink is approaching.nd

The preferred construction has .been illusv trated land will bespecifically described,

with the understanding, however, kthat within the scope of the inventionas claimed,

various modifications maybe made. i ATwo barriers ,10 are shownAmounted. at Y 'the tops of pitsill and normally ,forming portions of ahighway at its intersection` with a railway R, said barriers ybeingVdise posed at opposite sides of said railway; The constructionsassociated with the barriers 10 are all identical and hence ladescription aheavy metal plate-12 or a'plurali'ty of planksvorplatessecured upon a bed-frame l ably secured together. Secured to the lowers@ sides of the beams 14, are bearingsl which W are roclrablyy supportedby a horizontalshaft 16 extending across the portion of the pitflltoward the railway R. -Rigidly secured to these beams 14y and projectingtoward the preferably` formed of vchannel iron or .I-VVA i f beams7 theinnerends of these armsbeing y. providcdlwith weights V18 whicharesuiiJ` K ciently heavyv to descend and cause rai-singy of theVbarrier lOwasQseen in Fig. when Ypermitted to do. so. .-*Fulcrumedbetween theirends upon shaft 16 are twov leversl 19 whose `outer endsAor arms 19a are much Vheavier than their inner ends or arms`19b.'

l edges of the barrier' 10 and between said leverarms and edgesparetwovheavy arms 21v pivoted upon shaft 16 and connected at 21a Y withsaid lever arms 19a'. ,These arms21 and lever arms 19a normally restupon ledges 21b carried by kbarrier 1() fand hold lthe latterVdepressed` as in Fig. 2. When the'leve'rs19 and arms 21 arev swungVV tothe-position ofV Fig. 3, the'weights 18 function, to raise theV barrier10, and evengrthough said levers 19 .be then'locked vby meansYhereinafter des scribed, it itshouldbe necessary for a` ve-v Y. 'hicleVto Vtemporarily'depressthe barrierY 10 order to run od ,of theV.railway crossing, Vsuch temporary depression is allowed by thevweightsrlS Abut they Vwill then immediately `actto restore the-barrierto -its raised posi- Y tion.r `Depression of vthe barrier beyondLV theYproper `extent maybe prevent'edby any de-V sired means such as one'ormore heavybeains 22exten'ding across the pit'11. i

Extending across the pit11, over'the plat 20, isV asuitably supportedshaft 23 upon,.- which four levers 24 are mountedior independentmovement. -Extending from these levers are pullrods '25. connected byvbell cranks 126 with Vadditional pull rods.' 2 74 eX- tendinglongitudinally of the railway,l two ofsaid jrods'27r extending. in onedirection Vtrom thecrossing-and the other two in the other directionfrIf the inventionbeins'talled on a singletrack railwayinstead of a doubletrac'kfas shown, only two of the rods 27'will be necessary, two sets 'ofbell cranks 26 will suffice, two pullrods 25v arevall that are required,and only twoievers 24V are needed. Actuation or". any pull rod` 274actuates, the

Y bell 'cranks 26 connected therewith and pulls uponk the Yrods 25connected with these bell cranks, `with the result that the levers 24 towhich saidrods 25 are connected, are swung.v

causingtheir Vlower ends to engage the plates .2Q/,of the two barriers,y'said levers'beingpreferably provided with rollers 28.l for contact.with said plates;Y Movement of the Alevers 24-inl thismanne'rrdepresses the'lever rarms 19b of the levers 19, swings the leverarms 19'G1 andthe arins`21 upwardly, and henceV al'- lows upwardswinging of both' barriers 10 nected with crank *arms 30- on transverserock` shafts 31, there being one rock shaft ,for

" each trackjT at each side of the crossing,

f'track railway. YThe rock shafts. 31 are pro- 'fo' i Y' [3310ipivotally mounteddepressible rails 34.

vided with cams 32 upon" whichrest rollers These railsare rather remoteromopposite sides of the crossing and their pivots `are atjthe endsthereof more remote riroin said crossing, Vthe other ends of'said 'railsvbeing posedat the inner sides of. the track rails Y ,andV the latterare preferably provided with appropriate fillers 37 against which therails 34 are normally held by appropriate spring means t5S-438', .the`spring means 38 y being i associated with the pivots 35 while the meansV38 are spaced apartY at` .suitabler intervals c `along the rails 34.TheA depressiblek rails` ynormally incline toward the'crossing as seenin Fig. 4 andconsequently'thewheels of any Y car or train traveling'toward said crossing, will depress `one of'tlies'e rails by Contact ofthe V.wheel flanges therewith. VRail depres" sion in thismanner, causesrollers 33 and cam 32 to turn the rock shaft 31', 'thereby movingthecrank arm 30 to AoperateV the pullV rod 27, causing upward swingingof both barriers 10. .Thef ends 36 and the kspring -mountings for thedepressiblepra'ils 34zaref employed in'A order that none of theseVr'rails will be depressed by wheels ot a train .travel-` ing awayromw-the crossing.'l ,Thenf the A p,

flanges of the wheels, will simply force the rails 34 outwardly againstthe action of the springs38 and V38. n 'f -Unique, train-controlledmeans are pro-V vided ;or v holding theA barrier-actuating i levers 19in barrier-projected position. :One of the lever arms19b of eachbarrie'ris provided ywith a Adownwardly projecting arcuate 'plate 39provided with an opening 40. r Below Vthis opening, is ailocking'pin4lhere shownas` formed by a lportieri of the 'coreof' arsolenoid42- Thislocking pin is normally held in 'retracted position yby al coi-ledspring Vor the like 43, but provision is kmade 4for y Venergizing `the,two solenoids 42 (one for each barrier 10)Vv when any of the depressiblerails 34 is depressed..v Consequently, when the barriers 10 raise..and^"tlie,openings 40 arrive vin alinement with lthe locking pins 41,the solenoids 42 projectsaid lockingv pins through saidlopenings.40,?"the'reby locking the levers 19 in barrier-projected position aslong asy the solenoids are energizedjV Provision is made whereby.these'solenoids are de-energi'zedV only by passage' ofV the train from)the` crossing. n VVhenthis occurs, the

springs 43 retract the locking pinsV r41v from they openingsv 40. andlthel weight of the;r lever arms 19a and arms 21 causes the' barriers toVlower to normal position. VAsthe levers 19 return vto normal, the plate20 restore'sfthe. previously Yoperated lever 24 to vits-originalV yVposition, and this'lever operatesV the'numer-- that 1s, four rockshafts in all for. a double`V .solenoids 42 and closing VVof any ofthese circuits will energize both o'said solenoids. Each circuit isprovided with twobreaks.

VOne of these breaks. is constitutedy by a .depressible rails.y 34 andone of the switches X44. /When'a train entersalblock, yitstrucks'thelatter closes thejswfitch-f44. A Hence, both 46ibridge thegapbetween the opposed rails 45and when these ytrucks'ide'press the rail34,`

breaks iny kone ofthe solenoidfci'rcuits are closed; It followsthatfupon,A raising ofthe. barriers 10,efected'by depression. ofthe railv34, `the 'solenoids'42 project the lockingv pins' 41 into theopeningsf40-as above described. When the-trainfwheels leave the4depressiblc rail34', the latter remains lowered vand consequentlyswitch .44 remains closed. Consequently, the-'circuit of the solenoidsis maintained until the lastwheels of` the train have f passedf'from theblock'B, that. is-when the `tlain has lefty the crossing.` i Then,movement of' theflast ,wheelsI of `the 'train'y from 'the' rails 45,effects breaking i' of lthe 4 solenoid circuit. with the result thatthe" springsY 43-lretract the locking pins 41, to theirVnormalposi-` Y..tions, causing the various operating connections to restore thepreviouslydepressed rail 34-to its raised position,=l again opening thelswitch44.

Y The arrangement shown andf'idescribed willv operate whetherV a trainorcarv approaches from either redirection upon either trackfand inattaining the p .desiredk ends,fany appropriate circuit wiring may'befemployed That diagrammatically`- shown in V'Figa 9,

which is readily readablefwithout description,1may be followed desired.AAjba-ttery or othery source may feed thej circuits.

Itwill be lseen from ,thev foregoing that et- ;tec'tive provision.- hasbeen Imade "for raising bothnbarriers- 10` whenever train is apyproaching 'in either direction upon.v either tr'a'ckMthat the invention'will. permit 'any vehicle which' may have been. caught upon the'trac'kAto leavethe same, due to thevjfa'ct that eithenbarrier'l() 'mayV berdepressed against the'action 'of'.theweights 18,v even thoughthe'leve'rs 19 be then'locked by the ,pins Y41. As soonka's the vehiclethus leaving the tracks has cleared'the barrier, the

weights 18 again restore thelatter toraised position. Preferably, whenv4the barriersv are so raised, they display danger vand stop signs,

and the space between the'barriers and the A pits maythen be rclosed bysuitable f uards 47. The barriers will remain raise 4'until thev train`vhas cleared `the "crossing, whereupon thefsolenoid circuit i'sl'brokenand'all parts return to' normal position, unless` an- ,thatl atany timeythere isal train or carin anyotthe blocks B, regardless of 'the num-"absorb"l the L shoclrwhen the arm 30 is actua-` other train be attlf-ratA timetotally -orz tlally yupon ,one ofthe blocks track,thebarri'ers are-prevented from lowering' to normal' position until theladditional track clears'the crossing and another has` entered YtheYblock Bi on the same track, l,it

B.. lfythebal?'` e riers be maintained, jin/raised position/bya"`V train.on ione` block andfanotherl train entersy a blockv such as'B,son thesamev or another vtrain e(o'ryanyy number kot them)A halscleared. .thecrossing.V `'Assuming thata train'onaone y J will be clear that lthesecond train Iwill maintain the ,solenoil circuit which ywouldordinarilybe kbroken by the iirsttrain leav- 3 ing,r the bloek,.so thatvthe leversY 24,1etc. will remainin the position`L shown inFig'. 3. It,

at the time a train on one track-:clears the crossing and a train lonanother-track is-Yin the block vlB,'t he levers. 24 related with this`last-named track'will be applied vto prevent return of the barriers 10,when the solenoid circuit of the first track' is` brolrenand thelevers2`4 associated with thisvtrack are then Y free to return tonormal. ltY is vthus insured ber of tracks at the crossing,ythebarriers'wi'lll I f be held in raised position'.`

At some suitable location,` each rod 27 is preferably providedV withA ahydraulick or other rvshock absorber S, with a `turn-` buckle TB andwith a coiled spring or other elastic connection E. This elastic'connece tion and the Vshock absorber. Sfetfectively ted-bythedepressible rail 34 to'fpull upon the rod 27.V i Thefelastio connectionE also compensates for expansion andl contraction,

and-.any stretch or'lost-motion may be taken'VV J lheparts Vdenoted at25 an'd27 have been vdescribed asi-ods but it will be understoodr thatother equivalent means could be substi- `V tuted it desired, for'instance, chains or cables. f i, 1- x Iclairnr-f-vy V- e r 1. lingrade'crossing safety equipment, a selfiprojectingl traflic stoppingbarrier, means'normally holding said trafic stopping barrier againstprojection, a}.trainactuated v member, andv 'operating connections.between said train-actuated member'and saidholding means for releasingthe latter, allowing said barrier to move to projectedposition, saidbarrier when projected being'fre'e to move under the"influencevot-YaVvehicle, whereby the latter may temporarilyrestore said bar'- riertoinoperative position it necessary.

2. In grade crossing safety equipment, a

normally f retracted self-projecting trani@L stopping barrier, aweightmovable with respect to' said barrier for normally"holdingv thelatter against projection, meansffor mov:V

ing: said weight to barrier-releasin?V position, y yand means forholding said weight .1n said .-'rier,.wliereby the former, normally holdthe "of 'aivehicle ifnecessaryi. f i f v y Y Yequipment, al .normallylowered V'Seli-raising traihc .stopp barrier#releasing` position,leaving the bar-v lrierL free for retraction-underthe. influence pingbarrier normalllyiorming ap'ortion of a. highway,VV means. `pivotallymounting said f barrierV atv the topof-aiipia-a weighted lever vulcruined insaidjpit and adapted .for .ver-

" l former:4 normally holds. thelatter lowered, means ,for swingingsaidlever `to a barrier'- ,K j,releasingpositiomand means'ior holdingsaidV lever in said barrier-releasing position,

i leavingthebarrier free to be depressed un# der the' influence ofavehicle'ifr necessaryr ,A v'4511i grade 'crossing safety equipment, anormally lowered self-raising ti'ailicY stop-V fao ping barrier normallyfor-mingleJ portion of a highway', means pivotally mounting said barrierat the top .of arpit',fapair 'of-weighted v f levers '.fulcrnmedl `forvertical; swinging Vat two (opposite edges of said barrier, one-wayccnnectionsbetween said `levers* and the barlatter lowered,l a plateextending between and secured to said-levers, an operating lever: insaidpit andv having an .end con# V.tacting with the" upperV side oi': saidplate, andn'ieans for swinging said operating lever to cause saidendfthereoffto depress said plate and swing said weiglitedlevers tobarrier-releasing position.`

weight allowing the barrier to raise,` and meansestablis'hing aone-wayconn'ection .be-j

l vtween said weightandbarrier allowing de- Y .the weight is yheldraised. "45

pression ofthe barriertif necessary `while 6Ingrade crossing safetyequipment, Ya normally retracted self-projecting trafficstoppingbarrier, Ameans ynormally holding vsaid jbarrier`v in retractedpositionV and adapted also'toV againrretract saidbarrier' fatter l1;iojection thereof, .'train-actiiated means for moving saidbarrierholding'and l retracting'means toVv released positionV allow-'ing said Vbarrier tomove to' projected position,.andrV trainappliedmeans for holding lsaid bari'ienholdingiand retracting means inreleasedpositionuntilv the train Aclears the crossing, .saidbarrier-when proJected being Vfree forietraction under the influenceotra Vvehicle ifnecessary. Y,

v '7, In'fgi'adecrossing safety equipment, a normally retracted'Aself-.projecting trafilestopping` barrier, means normally vholding .saidbarrier 'l retracted position and adapted 'to also "again retract saidbarrier yafter projection thereof, train-actuated 'holding means inreleased position, electrical normally retractedsel-projectingtratlicj-V stopping barrier, rmeans normally holding latch means, and anormallyfopei'i circuit for '5. .Iii "grade crossing safety equipment, aVself-raising trallic stopping barrier, aweight Y whichV normally. holdslsaid barrier V'depressed j and acts valso 'to'` again .lower saidl.barrier Y fatter raisingthereoi', means for raisingsaid f Vspleet tosaid barrierfor normallyholding vtheplatter.;against projection andforfagain.

rier-projected :position and for holding said 'means forL moving sa'idbarri'eihol'ding and retractiiignieans to released position allowv Vingsaid barrier .to move to projected posi:-

tion, latch means erholding said fbarriermeansfor applyingsaidlatchmeans,` and a normally open circuit lfor said latch-apply; 4ing means,.issaid'circuitiV embodying a .gap Y betweentwo opposedtrackfrails adapted toV be bridged-by ati-ain truckto" apply said latchmeans andk hold appliedfnntilfthe train vleaves saidopposed rails, said.barrierV f when projected being tree for fretractionune der theinfluenceofA aveliicle i'f'iiecessary. 8. In grade crossing safetyequipinentYa,

said Vbarrier vin .retracted position andV` adapted. 'also to again'retract` saidbarrier" after projection thereof,- ar'gtrack-carriedtrain-moved 'member and means*v for trans,-` mitting motion from saidtrain-.moved member to said :barrier-holding and retracting.Ll

, means to movethe latterto barrier-releasing positionxallowingprojection of the barrier,

and -retracting ine-ans in barrier-projected position, electrical. meansiforA applying said* saidfelectrical meanasaid circuit embodying twobreaks, one of said. breaks being.` constituted-by a switch under theinluenceo'f said f train-moved member and closed by the latterconcurrently withinovement of said barrierholdingjand retracting meansto barrier- V'flee projected position, the' other. of said` breaks beinggap between opposed vtrack'rails adapted to bebridgcd 'by atraintrucli,;;fy wherebyisaidcircuit will be closed until theV trainvleaves saidiails, said barrier-when projected'being reeiior retractionunder the f" influence of a-vehicleif necessary.. v 'jV j 9. In gradecrossing sai'etyk equipment, a' nornfiallyv retracted*`Arself-projecting, trailic; stopping barrier, a weightfmovable with-reretracti-ngV said barriery after: .projection thereof, trainactuatedmeans.. forr'lmovingf said weight to barrierLreleasing: positionallowing the barrier to proj ect, latch means foi holding said weightin' barriereprojected position, and train-actuated means fori applyingVsaid holding means concurrently"` with movementof said vweight to saidbar- 90 latch means fory holding saidbarrieiholding J ifie f, Y

vrretracting vsaid barrierffafter projection Vthereof, train-actuatedmeans for moving vsaidvveight to barrier-rel`easing'position allowingthe barrier to project, latch means for holding said Weight inbarrier-projected position, electrical means for applyingjsaid latchmeans, and a normally .open circuit for v said electrical means,.sa1dcircuit embodying f a. gap betweenftwoopposed track `rails j adapted tobe bridged by a rtraintruck to Vapply said latch-means andhold itapplied i Vuntil the train leaves saidrails, said barrier Whenprojectedbeingiree for retraction i 1l. In grade crossing safetyequipment, a

the barrier against projection and v for again retractingl said' barrierf after Y proiection ftliereof, a track-carried train moved member ,andmeans. for transmitting motion-'from said member to said Weight tomovejthe lat'-` y ter to barrierreleasing position, latch means Vforholding said Weightin barrier-projected position, electrical means forapplying said f f latch means, and a normally open circuit for saidelectrical means, said circuit having Atwo breaks, one of said breaksbeing'formed by a switchunder the influenceof said trainmoved member andclosed lthereby concurrently With movement of said Weightto'barrier-projected position, the other-of Ysaid breaks being agapbetvveen two opposed track rails adapted to beiy bridged by traintrucks, thereby holdinfgsaid circuit 'closed until the train rleavessaidrails, said barrier Whenprojected being freefor retraction under theinuence ofV a vehicle ifnecessary.

In testimony whereof rI have lhereunto aliXed my signature. Y

HARRY S. CODER.

